Acetylene-gas generator.



Patented Sept. 5, 1,899.

6 Sheets-Sheet l l Il F. A. FELDKAMP.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application led Nov. 30, 1898.) (No Model.)

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INVENTOR my? @l ATTORNEY PatentedSept. 5., l89. F. A. FELDKAMP.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application led Nov. 30, 1898.) (Nn Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

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TH: Nonms PETERS ca. Nom-urna. mamma Patented Sept. 5, |899.

F. A. FELDKAMP.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

i (Application filed Nov. 30, 1898.) V(Nu Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 WITNESSES:

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No. 632,679'V Patented Sept. 5, i899.

F. fA. FELDKAMP. v

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application led Nov. 30, 1898.] (No Model.) sheets-Shcet f4,

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Patented Sept` 5, |899.

A F. A. FELDKAMP.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Nov. 30, 1898.|

6 Sheets-$heet 5,

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

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Patented Sept. 5, |899. F. A. FELDKAMP. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application led Nov. 30, 1898.)

B Sheets-Sheet 6.

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(No Model.)

INVENTOR'- ATTORNE WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicEa FRITZ A. FELDKAMP, OF NEWARK, NEV JERSEY.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.. 632,679, dated September 5, 1899.

Application filed November 30, 1.898. Serial N0- 697,818. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ 1072/0772/ 7215 may concern:

Be it known that I, FRITZ A. FELDKAMP, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Grenerators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description i of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a` part of this specification.

My present invention has for its special purpose to provide a novel construction of apparatus for generating acetylene gas in which prepared calcium carbid can be used in the form of lumps to be deposited from time to time in predetermined quantities into the water to generate the gas in proper proportion to the consumption of the gas, the appa.-

ratus being of such construction that the carbid or other gas-producing substance which .is introduced into the water is entirely dissolved and produces the required volume of gas, according to the consumption.

Many other objects of this invention not here specifically set forth will be more fully described in the accompanying speciiication.

To this end my invention consists in the .general construction of apparatus and in the arrangement of the novel devices and combinations thereof, all of which will be hereinafter fully described and iinally defined in the clauses of the claim hereto appended, with a view of providing an apparatus in which granulated calcium carbid is introduced into the water from timeto time, being regulated automatically by the amount of consumption of the gas and to provide a perfectly-safe apparatus.

From the following description of the operations of the several parts of the apparatus it will be evident that the gas-cocks of the burners in the piping connected with the apparatus can be rapidly turned off and the apparatus left standing without further care, because there is no continuous generation of acetylene gas, and consequently there is no danger of explosion owing to an overproduction of gas.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus embodying the principles of my present invent-ion, and Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the apparat-us illustrating the inner construction and arrangement of the several ldevices and parts that go to make up the present construction of apparatus, said section being taken on linexin Fig. 2. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are horizontal sections of the apparatus, taken, respectively, on lines-4t 4, 5 5, and 6 G in said Fig. 3. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are detail views, on an enlarged scale, of certain of the parts illustrated more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4L. Fig. l0 is a sectional view, similar to that represented in Fig. 3, of an apparatus of a slightly-modified form'of construction, but still embodying the principal features of this invention.

Similar letters of reference are employed in all of the above-described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the said drawings, A indicates a suitable tank, consisting, essentially, of a body a, and a conical bottom ct, having a suitable opening a2, in which is secured in any desirable manner an outlet-pipe b, provided with a shut-off cock or valve b', substantially as illustrated in the several gures of the drawings. The said tank is also provided with an upwardly sloping or coneshaped top 61,3, forming a cover for the body ct, 'and aindicatesa funnel-shaped top piece, which is provided at its smaller end with an annular flange a5, surrounding the dischargeopening of said top piece a4, said flange a?) being fitted in the neck formed by an annular flange a6 of the cone-shaped top a3, substantially as illustrated. Said parts are suitably secured together by means of rivets a7 or in any other well-known manner, and held in position by the same rivets, as will be seen from Fig. 3, is a hollow cylinder as, the lower end of which projects beneath the surface of the water in the tank A. In one side of the portion or body a is an inlet-openingl a9, preferably covered by a suitable screen ctw, and on the outer side of said body is a suitable lling device, as a, into which water can be admitted when it is intended to iill the tank IOO A from time to time with a fresh supply of water.

At a suitable point near the lower portion of the body a of the tank A is an annular ring c, provided with a suitable shoulder c', and arranged upon this shoulder c is a suitable screen c2, for the purposes hereinafter set forth. Said screen c2 is provided with a centrally-arranged bearing c5, in which is rotatably arranged a rod or stem CZ. Said rod or stem is provided at the bottom with a coneshaped or other suitable end, as CZ, which can be forced down into the pipe b and valve b to force any deposited lime or other obstruction that may have become lodged in said parts from the end of said pipe, and thereby permit a free passage-way for the outowing water. Said rod or stem.cZ is provided at the top with a push-piece @Z2 and a crank Z3 for turning the same, a spring (Z4 being placed on that portion of the rod between said pushpiece d2 and the crank d3, as shown. Said spring is for the purpose of returning the rod or stem CZ to its initial position after it has been pushed down by the operator for forcing the piercing means CZ on said rod or stem down into the pipe l) and its valve b', as

will be clearly understood. Upon the lower portion of said rod cZ is a tube or pipe e, which is operatively connected with the rod or stem CZ by means of a pin e2, secured in said tube or pipe e, and being slidably arranged in a slot Z5 in the said rod or stem CZ. Secured upon said tube or pipe c, by means of va collar ea or in any other well-known manner, is a deflecting device e4, which is preferably provided with a cone-shaped top e5 and has radially-arranged wings e, which extend to points near the inner surface of the body a and can be rotated directly above the upper surface of the screen c2 to scatter or crush the larger particles of the calcium carbid or other gas-producing substance that may accumulate upon the said screen. Connected with said tube or pipe e, by means of the bearing-plates e7 and e8 or in any other Well-known manner, is a frame e, which is made to conform in its general outline to the inner contour of the lower part of the tank A and can be used as a scraper to remove any impurities, such as deposited lime, from the inner surface of the lower part of the tank A when said rod CZ is turned by means'of its crank d3, hereinabove mentioned. Thus it will be seen that while the parts e4, e, and e9 are permanently iixed in position on the tube or pipe e they are also operatively connected with the rod or stern (Z, and still the latter is capable of a reciprocatory sliding motion in said tube or pipe e when depressed to permit the entering of the part cZ' into the pipe Z), as will be clearly evident from an inspection of Fig. 3. As will be seen from Figs.

3, 4, S, and 9, I have arranged upon the upper portion of the said rod or stem CZ a short tube or pipe g, which is provided at its lower end with a screw-threaded part, whereby it can be screwed in position on a disk or plate f, suitable lock-nuts g', g2, and g3 being also screwed upon said end of the tube or pipe g and arranged on opposite sides of the said disk f to more securely connect said tube and disk together. Said disk f is provided with several holes, in which I have arranged and secured by means of nuts f3 the ends f2 of certain stay bolts or rods f', the opposite ends f4of said rods being passed through holes u.12 in the sides of the top piece a4. and being secured in position by means of a Washer f5 and the nuts f6 and f7, as illustrated more especially in Fig. 9 of the drawings. Said stay-rods f will thus firmly hold the said disk or plate f in its proper position, as will be clearly evident. Rotatively arranged upon the said tube or pipe gis a second tube or pipe h, which has its lower end resting lightly upon the said nut g', hereinabove mentioned. At or near the upper end of this tube or pipe 71, is a collar h', secured to said tube or pipe by means of a set-screw h2, and h3 is a suitable ratchet-wheel, which is also suitably secured to the said tube or pipe h and in position directly above the said collar h. Loosely and rotatively arranged on the end of the tube or pipe g, which extends above the said tube or pipe h, as shown, is the perforated end 'i' of a rod or arm i, said arm being provided at its free end with a bracket 2, having a pair of perforated ears or lugs 3, and a pin Z4, secured in said ears or lugs. Connected with said pin 4 is the slotted end Z6 of a downwardly-extending connecting-rod Z5, which is secured at its lower end to a cross bar or rod 7. Said rod Z7 is fulcrumed upon a pin j in a bracket j, which in turn is secured upon the said top piece a3 of the tank A in the proper place, as will be clearly seen from an inspection of Figs. l, 2, and 3. Said rod v7 has a suitable weight or counterbalance 'ZS at its one end and has its opposite end if movably and operatively arranged between a pair of rollers Za' in a frame Zz, Which is secured to the side of the usual form of gas-holder Z.

L indicates a gas-receiver comprising a suitable Water-tank Z, which is open at the top and is provided with any desirable number of uprights Z2. The said gas-holder, which is movably arranged between these uprights, is open at the bottom and is closed at the top. The open part of said holder Z is arranged in the water in the tank Z, and upon the top of said holder are a number 'of grooved wheels Z3, which are in rolling contact with the uprights Z2 to properly guide the vertical movement of the gas-holder as it moves up and IOO IIO

down by the admission or emission of gas Y into or from the said holder.

Connected with an outlet als in the coneshaped top a3 of the tank A is a pipe m, having a T-iitting 'm'. Connected with said f1tting 'm' is a downwardly-extending pipe m2, which leads into the tank or reservoir Z at or near the bottom thereof, and terminates in an upright pipe m3, leading to a point above the water in the gas-holder Z. Said pipe m2 is provided with a stop-cock m4 for shutting off the communication between the tank A and the receiver l in case of repair or for other reasons, and connected with a T-fitting m5 in the said pipe may be a drippot m for catching any water caused by condensation, said pot being provided with an outlet-cock 'm7 for drawing off the water when necessary. Leading from a point at or near the bottom of said water-tank l is a pipe n, in which maybe arranged the-burner or burners for consuming the gas. provided within the gas-holder Z with an upright pipe n',exten ding above the water therein, the gas in said holder passing into said pipe n and then through the main pipe 1t to the burner or burners. Connected with the said T-tting m', herein-above mentioned, is a pipe q', which leads into the bottom of the usual form of gas-trap q, arranged in an escape-pipe qthat leads to the roof of the building. Thus it will be seen that an oversupply of gas produced in the tank A will pass through the pipe q into the said trap q, and thence through the escape-pipe q2 into the open air, thereby overcoming all danger of explosion.

Vhen the gas-holder Z of the receiver L has been raised by the gas, the rod i7 will stand approximately in the position indicated in dotted outline in Fig. l.. Now as the gas is being withdrawn by consumption at the burner or burners the device 7s will actuate said rod i7, and in turn also the connectingrod The movement of the rod will cause a horizontal motion of the rod or arm 2', and the latter being provided with a spring-actuated pawl or dog im, which is in operative engagement with the ratchet-teeth of the ratchetwheel h3, will cause an intermittent rotary motion of the tube or pipe h upon the said tube V or pipe g and will bring a spur or foot h5, connected with a clamping-band h4, which is secured upon said tube or pipe h, in operative engagement with a finger o of an arm or post o, which is pivotally arranged in a bearing f8 on the disk or plate f, as clearly represented in Fig. S of the drawings. Arranged concentric with the said disk or plate f on the inner conical surface of the top piece a4 are any desirable number of hinged and spring-actuated carbid -holding receptacles fr, and of course the number of bearings fs on the stationary disk f and the number of posts or arms o in said bearings will correspond to the number of such carbid-holding receptacles fr.

Each receptacle r has a hinged coyer r', which can be raised by the operator for filling the receptacle with the carbid, the inclined surface of the top piece a* of the tank A forming the bottom of each receptacle r. Said covers fr", as will be seen from Figs. 7 and 8, may be provided with spring-actuated hinges fr?, which hold :said covers r down upon the receptacles, as will be evident. Each recep- Said pipe n is.

tacle r is also secured to the inner surface of the top piece a4 by means of a hinge s, each hinge being provided with a suitably-constructed spring s', the normal tendency of which is to cause the receptacle r to be thrown upwardly and backwardly in the manner to be hereinafter set forth in detail, and whereby the open bottom of each receptacle r can be held away from the inclined surface of the top piece a4. In order that each receptacle 7' may be held in the positions indicated in the several figures of the drawings, and more especially as illustrated in Fig. S, each receptacle is provided with an arm r3, with the forward end of which can be brought in holding or locked engagement a hook-shaped end or nosing o2 of each post or arm o. In this manner each receptacle can be held in its closed position, and is thereby adapted to receive a predetermined quantity of carbid or other gas-producing substance.

After all the receptacles r have been filled with the carbid or other gas-producing substance, as stated, the operator by hand causes one of the receptacles r to deposit its contents into the water in the body a of the tank A. Immediately acetylene gas is generated and the same passes into the gas-receiver L, causing the gas-holder Z' to rise. This upward movement of the holder Z brings the rod 7 into the position indicated in the dotted outline in Fig. l, the intermediate rods or arms connected therewith being simultaneously actuated and the dog or pawl im having passed over the proper number of ratchetteeth of the wheel h3. In order that the said ratchet-wheel h3 may be retained in its proper position during the action of these several parts of the mechanism and to prevent any backward movement of said ratchet-wheel on the tube or pipe h, I have secured on the end of the tube or pipe g, preferably bymeans of a set-screw p' and a nut 192, (see Fig. 3,) an arm p, which has a spring-actuated dog or pawl p3 in operative engagement with the ratchet-teeth of the said wheel h3 and the action of which will be clearly understood from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3. the said gas-holder l is lowered, owing to the consumption of the gas, then the ratchetwheel h3 will receive a partial rotary motion, whereby the spur or foot h5 will be brought in operative sliding engagement with the iinger 0 on the next pivotal post 0 to disengage the nosing of said post from its holding e11- gagement with the arm r3 of the next adjacent receptacle r. The spring s', connected with the hinge of said receptacle rr', will immediately cause said receptacle to be thrown back, and the carbid or other gas-producing substance therein will pass down the inclined surface of the top piece a4, into and through the cylinder as, down upon the conical device or deflector el, and will finally be deposited upon the grating or screen c2, where the lumps of carbid are dissolved and generate the acety- Iene gas. The carbid which I prefer to use As soon as IOO IIO

is prepared in such a manner that it will not begin to generate the gas upon itsimmediate contact with the water, and hence there will be no gas formed until the carbid has safely been deposited upon the screen. From an inspection of Fig. 3 of the drawings it will be seen that the inner construction of the tank A and its parts is such that the bubbles of gas that will rise will pass through the Water on the outer side of the inner cylinder a8 and into the top of the bodya beneath the top piece a4, where the gas is collected. Thus the tank A maybe safely provided with an Open top piece a4 and without the least danger of any gas escaping into the room.

During the operation of the alternate rising and lowering of the gas-holder Z the mechanism for actuating the receptacles o" is intermittently actuated, and from time to time each receptacle 'r is emptied of its contents, whereby the proper quantity of carbid or other gas-producing substance is deposited in the water in the body a to generate gas in sufficient volume and in proper proportion to, the consumption of the gas at the burner or burners in the pipe n.

The screen am over the opening a in the side of the body a is for the purpose of preventing any of the lumps or pieces of carbid or other gas producing substance when dropped upon the conical surface of the deiiector e4 from being forced up and through the said opening a9 into the filling device au on the outer surface of the body a of the tank A. A shield t, having an upwardly-inclined surface substantially as illustrated in Fig. 3, is preferably secured to the inner surface of the body @directly beneath and partly around the said opening a9, whereby any lumps or pieces of carbid that may accidentally land on said -shield will immediately drop back into the water, and, furthermore, said shield will cause the bubbles of gas generated to pa'ss to either side of the opening a9, and hence the shield serves to prevent the gas from escaping into and passing out of the said opening a9 into the open air.

In lieu of the construction of acetylene-gas generator just described the apparatus may be made as indicated in Fig. 10. In this construction I dispense with the cone-sh aped top a3 to the body a ot' the tank A, as shown in Figs. l and 3 of the drawings, and I secure the top piece a4 directly upon the surrounding edge of the said body a, as illustrated in said Fig. lO. The arrangement of the carbid-receptacles fr and the means for actuating the same are similar to that described in connection with Figs. l, 2, et seguita/r. In place of a short tube or pipe g on the stem or rod d l employ a long tube or pipe g4, which is held inplace at the bottom by means of a pair of nuts g5 and a narrow brace g"', secured to the inner sides of the body a, substantially as illustrated. The rod or stem d extends from the bottom of said tube or pipe g4 and is prog7 on said tube is a gas-holder u. This holder has a closed top it and is secured Within the body a of the tank A by means of suitable braces u2. Directly beneath said gas-holder "u, is a device fu, which is provided with the inwardly and then outwardly inclining sidesV c', whereby said device fu forms a suitable conveyer for conducting the carbid or other gas -prodncing substances from the receptacles o" down between the annular space formed by the inner surface of the body a and the outer surface of the gas-holder u and then into said conveyer c, which conducts the lumps or pieces of carbid or the like directly upon and near the center of the screen c4, as will be understood. `In this form of apparatus I may employ the ordinary glass indicator w for indicating the height of the water in the body a. is an inlet-pipe for admitting water into the tank, and y is the gas-pipe for conducting the gas from the gasholder u to the gas-receiver L, illustrated in connection with Figs. l and 2. tions of the several parts of the apparatus' illustrated in said Fig. IO will be more clearly understood froln an inspection of said Fig. 10, and need not be further described.

From the above description it will be evident that I have devised a simple and operative apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas in the proper proportions to the consumption of the gas, and the consequent danger of explosion, due to an over supply of the gas, is entirely obviated.

I am fully aware that many changes may be made in the arrangements and combinations of the parts and in the several operating mechanisms, as well as in the details of the construction thereof, Without departing from the scope of my invention. Hence I do not limit my invention to the exact arrange-v ments and combinations of parts nor to the details of the construction thereof, as herein described and as illustrated in the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. An apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, comprising a body constructed to contain water, a top piece on said body, a central means of communication between said The opera- IOO IIO

parts, a centrally-arranged disk in position raised and depositing their contents, one at a time, into 4the water, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, comprising a body constructed to contain water, a top piece on said body having a funnel-shaped bottom, a central means of communication between said parts, a centrally-arranged disk in position above said central means of communication, a series of pivoted receptacles, each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance arranged in said top piece in a horizontal plane and concentric with said central means of communication, a locking or holding means for normally retaining each receptacle in closed relation with the bottom of said top piece, and a separate means for actuating said locking or holding means and thereby releasing said receptacles in succession to admit a certain quantity of the gasproducing substance, from time to time, into the water, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. An apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, comprising a body constructed to contain water, a top piece on said body, a hollow cylinder'connected with said body and top piece at the junction thereof, to form a central means of communication between said parts, a deector in said body and beneath the discharge-opening in said cylinder, a centrally-arranged disk in position above said central means of communication, and a series of receptacles on said top piece, each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance, said receptacles being arranged in said top piece in a horizontal plane and concentric with said central means of communication and capable of emptying their contents, one at a time, into the water, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. An apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, comprising a body constructed to contain water, a top piece on said body, a hollow cylinder connected with said body and top piece at the junction thereof, to form a central means of communication between said parts, a deflector in said body and beneath the discharge-opening in said cylinder, a centrally-arranged disk in position above said central means of communication, and a series of pivoted receptacles, each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance, a locking or holding means for normally retaining each receptacle in closed relation with the bottom of said top piece, and a separate means for actuating said locking or holding means and thereby releasing said receptacles in succession to admit a certain quantity of the gasproducing substance, from time to time, into the water, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. An apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, comprising a body constructed to contain water, a top piece on said body, a central means of communication between said parts, a centrally-arranged disk in position Vabove said central means of communication,

a screen in said body, a series of receptacles, each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance,said receptacles being arranged in said top piece in a horizontal plane and concentric with said central means ot' communication and capable of emptying their contents, one at a time, into the Water and upon said screen,

`means in said body for spreading the gas-producing substance, when on said screen, and

' mechanism for rotatin g said spreading means,

substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. An apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, comprising a body constructed to contain water, a top piece on said body, a means of communication between said parts, a screen in said body, a series of receptacles, each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance, said receptacles being arranged and capable of emptying their contents, one at a time, into the water and upon said screen, and means in said body for spreading the gasproducing substance, when on said screen, consisting, essentially, of a deflector e4 having a conical top and radially-arranged wings, and means for rotating said deector, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. An apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, comprising a body constructed to contain water, a top piece on said body, a hollow cylinder connected with said body and top piece at the junction thereof, a screen in said body, a deilector on said screen and below the discharge-opening in said cylinder, and a series of pivoted receptacles, each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance, a locking or holding means for normally retaining each receptacle in closed relation with the bottom of said top piece, and a separate means for actuating` said locking or holding` means and thereby releasing said receptacles in succession to admit a certain quantity of the gas-producing substance, from time to time, into the water, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. An apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, comprising a body constructed to contain water, a top piece on said body, a hollow cylinder connected With said body and top piece at the junction thereof, a screen in said body, a deflector on said screen and below the discharge-opening in said cylinder, and a series of pivoted receptacles,each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance, a locking or holding means for normally retaining each receptacle in closed relation with the bottom of said top piece, and a separate means for actuating said locking or holding means and thereby releasing said receptacles in succession to admit a certain quantity of the gas-producing substance, from time to time, into the water, and means connected with said defiector for spreading the gas-producing substance on said screen, substan tially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In an apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, the combination, with a tank IOO IIO

comprising a body constructed to contain water, a top piece on said body, a means of communication between said parts, a centrallyarranged rod or stem, a disk on said rod or stem, a series of receptacles on said top piece, each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance, and means on said disk arranged to engage with said receptacles, one at a time, to empty their contents into the water, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In an apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, the combination, with a tank comprising a body constructed to contain water, a top piece on said body, a means of communication between said parts, a centrallyarranged rod or stem, a disk on said rod or stem, a series of receptacles on said top piece, each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance, and means on said disk arranged to engage with said receptacles, one at a time, to empty their contents into the water, consisting of a tube or pipe on said rod or stem to which said disk is attached, a spur or foot ccnnected with said tube or pipe, and a series of pivoted posts or arms on said disk normally in holding engagement with said receptacles, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

11. In an apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, the combination, with a tank comprising a body constructed to containwater, a top piece on said body, a means of communication betweensaid parts, a centrallyarranged rod or stem, a disk on said rod or stem, a tube or pipe g on said rod or stem to which said disk is secured, a series of receptacles on said top piece,'each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance, and means on said disk arranged to engage with said receptacles, one at a time, to empty their contents into the water, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

12. In an apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, the combination, with a tank comprising a body constructed to contain Water, a top piece on said body, a meansof com-` munication between said parts, a centrallyarranged rod or stem, a disk on said rod or stem, a tube or pipe g on said rod or stem to which said disk is secured, a series of receptacles on said top piece, each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance, and means on said disk arranged to engage with said receptacles, one at a time, to empty their contents into the water, consisting, of a tube or pipe h rotatively arranged on said tube or pipe g, a ratchet mechanism on said tube or pipe 7L for actuating the same, a spur or foot connected with said tube or pipe, and a series of pivoted posts or arms on said disk normally in holding engagment with said receptacles, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

13. In an apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, a tank constructed to contain water and means for feeding carbid or other gas producing substances into said tank, an outlet-pipe in said tank, a stem or rod in said tank, and means at the bottom of said rod or stern to be forced into said-outletpipe to remove any obstructions in said pipe, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

14. In an apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, a tank constructed to contain water and means for feeding carbid or other gas-producing substances into said tank, an outlet-pipe in said tank, a stem or rod in said tank, a deflecting device on said rod, said tank being provided with an inletopening in the side thereof, a screen over said opening, a shield directly beneath said opening, ascreen c2 in said tank, a scraper connected with the lower end of said stem or rod, and means for rotating said stem or rod, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

15. In an apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, the combination, with a water-tank comprising a body, a top piece on said body, and means of communication between said parts, of a series of pivoted receptacles on said top piece, each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance, a locking or holding means for normally retaining each receptacle in closed relation with the bottoni of said top piece, a separate'means for actuating said locking or holding means and releasing said receptacles in succession to ad mit a certain quantity of the gas-producing substance, from time to time, into the water, a gas-receiver connected with said watertank, a vertically-moving gas-holder in said gas-receiver, and an intermediate mechanism between said gas-holder and said locking or holding means for actuating said receptacles con taining the said gas-producin g substances, said mechanism being actuated by the rising and falling of said gas-holder, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

16. In an apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, the combination, with a water-tank comprising a body, a top piece on said body, and means of communication between said parts, of a series of pivoted :receptacles on said top piece, each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance, a locking or holding means for normally retaining each receptacle in closed relation with the bottom of said top piece, a separate means for actuating said locking or holding means and releasing said receptacles in succession to admit a certain quantity of the gas-producing substance, from time to time, into the water, a gas-receiver. connected with said water-tank, Aa vertically-moving gas-holder in said gas-receiver, and an intermediate mechanism between said gas-holder and said locking or holding means for actuating said receptacles containing the said gas-producing substances, said mechanism being actuated by the rising and falling of said gasholder, and consisting, essentially, of a ratchet mechanism, and a series of pivotallyconnected arms or levers, all arranged, substantially as andvfor the purposes set forth.

17. In an apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, the combination, with a tank IOO IIO

comprising a body constructed to con tain water, a top piece on said body, and a means of communication between said parts, of a centrally-arranged rod or stem, a disk on said rod or stem, a series of receptacles on said top piece, each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance, a locking or holding means on said disk arranged to engage with said receptacles, one at a time, to empty their contents into the water, a gas-receiver connected with said watertank, a vertically moving gasholder in said gas-receiver, and an intermediate mechanism between said gas-holder and said locking or holding means connected with said disk, actuated by the rising and falling of said gas-holder, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

18. In an apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, the combination, with a tank comprising a body constructed to contain water, a top piece on said body, and a means of communication between said parts, of a centrally-arran ged rod or stem, a disk on said rod or stein, a series of receptacles on said top piece, each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance, a locking or holding means on said disk arranged to engage with said receptacles, one at a time, to empty their contents into the water, a gas-receiver connected with said watertank, a vertically moving gasholder in said gas-receiver, and an intermediate mechanism between said gas-holder and said locking or holding means connected with said disk, actuated by the rising and falling of said gas-holder, said means consisting, essentially, of a ratchet mechanism, and a se` ries of pivotally-connected arms or levers, all arranged, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

19. In an apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, the combination, witha tank comprising a body constructed to contain water, a top piece on said body, and a means of communication between said parts, of a centrally-arranged rod or stem, a disk on said rod or stem, a series of receptacles on said top piece, each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance, a locking or holding means on said disk arranged to engage with said receptacles, one at a time, to empty their contents into the water, consisting of a tube or pipe on said rod or stem to which said disk is attached, a spur or foot connected with said tube or pipe, and a series of posts or arms on said disk normally in holding engagement with said receptacles,a gas-receiver connected with said water-tank, a vertically-moving gasholder in said gas-receiver, and an intermediate mechanism between said gas-holder and said locking or holding means connected with said disk, actuated by the rising and falling of said gas-holder, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

20. In an apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, the combination, with a tank comprising a body constructed to contain water, a top piecc'on said body, and a means of communication between said parts, of a centrally-arranged rod or stem, a disk on said rod or stem, a series of receptacles on said top piece, each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance, a locking or holding means on said disk arranged to engage with said receptacles, one at a time, to empty their contents into the water, consisting of a tube or pipe on said rod or stem to which said disk is attached, a spur or foot connected with said tube or pipe, and a series of posts or arms on said disk normally in holding engagement with said receptacles, a gas-receiver connected with said water-tank, a vertically-moving gas-holder in said gas-receiver, and an intermediate mechanism between said gas-holder and said locking or holding means connected with said disk, actuated by the rising and falling of said gas-holder, consisting, essentially, of a ratchet mechanism, and a series of pivotally-connected arms or levers, all arranged, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2l. In an apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, the combination, with a water-tank comprising a body, a top piece on said body, and a means of communication between said parts,of a centrally-arranged rod or stem,

a disk on said rod or stem, a tube or pipe g on said rod or stem to which said disk is secured, a series of receptacles on said top piece, each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance, a locking or holding means on said disk arranged to engage with said receptacles, one at a time, to empty their contents into the watertank, consisting, of a tube h rotatively arranged on said tube or pipe g, a ratchet mechanism on said tube or pipe h for actuating the same, a spur or foot connected with said tube or pipe, and a series of pivoted posts or arms on said disk normallyin holding engagement with said receptacles, a gas-receiver connected with said water-tank@ vertically-moving gasholder in said gas-receiver, and an intermediate mechanism between said gas-holder and said ratchet mechanism, actuated by the rising and falling of said gas-holder, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

22. In an apparatus for generating acetylene or other gas, the combination, with a water-tank comprising a body, a top piece on said body, and a means of communication between said parts, of a centrally-arranged rod or stem, a disk on said rod or stem, a tube or pipe gon said rod or stem to which said disk is secured, a series of receptacles on said top piece, each adapted to contain a gas-producing substance, a locking or holding means on said disk arranged to engage with said receptacles, one at a time, to empty their contents into the watertank, consisting, of a tube h rotatively arranged on said tube or pipe g, a ratchet mechanism on said tube or pipe h for actuating the same, a spur or foot connected with said tube or pipe, and a series of pivoted posts or arms on said disk normally in holding engagement with said receptacles, a gas-receiver connected with said water-tank, a vertically-moving IOO IIO

tially as and for the purposes set forth.

gas-holder in said gasreoeiver, and an interl In testimony that I claim the invention set mediate mechanism between said gas-holder and said ratchet mechanism, actuated bythe rising and falling of said gas-holder, oonsistl ing, essentially, of a series of pivotally-eonlVitnesses:

forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of November, 1898.

FRITZ A. FELDKAMP.

FREDK C. FRAENTZEL, WALTER H. TALMAGE.

nected arms or levers, all arranged, substan- 

